Lyon agree deal for Bordeaux playmaker Gourcuff

Lyon will sign Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff after the two clubs agreed a fee for the French international believed to be around €22 million.

Gourcuff has been one of the stars of French football in recent years, having failed to make the breakthrough at AC Milan, and has been tipped to fill the shoes of Zinedine Zidane in the national side.

A hugely important figure for Bordeaux last season, he has now decided to continue his career elsewhere - after influential manager Laurent Blanc left to take up the vacant France job - and he was left on the bench at the weekend after handing in a transfer request.

"Clubs Olympique Lyonnais and FC Girondins de Bordeaux have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Yoann Gourcuff," a press release from Bordeaux read. "This transfer will be effective soon.

"This transfer will take place in preserving the interests of the Bordeaux club, in full agreement with the coach and the coaching staff and in accordance with the contractual commitments of the player.

"The Club will have the opportunity to communicate very soon and to reaffirm its ambitions before the season begins."